Natural vs Synthetic
Being that this has been a controversial subject for awhile, I would like to take a few minutes to talk about the topic of "natural" products.
Natural products today range anywhere from adding a single ingredient in a miniscule amount to a product and then calling that product "natural" all the way to mashing an avocado and applying it to your face as a beauty treatment. Having said that, some people would have a problem even with this - if the avocado were not "certified" organic. There is no standard here in the United States, whatsoever, as to what constitutes a "natural" product. This has led to a lot of confusion with the public and a tremendous amount of arguing inside the industry itself with angry words and hurt feelings between its members as to who is claiming what. It's really sad that it has come to this.
From what I have seen, there is no such thing as a 100% natural product line. When you add a preservative to anything to extend its shelf life it's no longer 100% natural. Preservatives are not natural. Natural substances that show antimicrobial activity are either inadequate for broad spectrum protection or have undesirable qualities. Most natural substances are not active against the most threatening microbes, pseudomonads. Others, such as essential oils, require very high concentrations to be effective. Some have offensive odors or colors that would be unacceptable in skin care products. And many become inactivated by manufacturing procedures and other factors.
We use a naturally-derived preservative with broad spectrum protection that has been approved for use in certified organic products yet we've been accused of not having a truly "natural" line because of this by some who feel that anything not plucked off a tree, stem or vine or dug out of the ground isn't natural. Our opinion is that it's more important to offer a safe product than one that's potentially unstable.
Having said that, natural does not mean neutral. Many people are allergic to natural substances including dairy, wheat and nuts. Caution should always be used when trying a new product for the first time if you have a history of allergic reactions. Better yet, ask the company if you have a question about any of their products and/or ingredients. A reputable company will readily answer any questions you have.
Many of our products are made with food grade ingredients but are not certified organic. This is a category unto itself. Also, our products are not Vegan, which is another category that's popular today. I love honey, beeswax and royal jelly and also use goat's milk in my soap. I don't apologize for this because I'm an omnivore. I certainly understand the position of those who are herbivores and also those who seek certified organic products but not every ingredient that we use is available as a certified organic ingredient so it's not possible for us to have a certified organic line. These are decisions we all must make as to where we want to draw the line. I prefer not to use synthetic fragrance and/or color plus many other ingredients I consider objectionable (i.e. parabens) but it's up to each person as to where they stand on this subject. I have met people who tout their line as being certified organic yet subsist on a diet of unhealthy processed food.
The best advice I can offer is to educate yourself on the subject and thoroughly read your labels. Anything past "fragrance" on the label (which can be natural or synthetic, either one) is included in that product in a percentage of less than one percent. Don't be fooled by a long ingredient list that pays lip service to "natural" in a percentage that offers no benefit to the user. This is what we call greenwashing.
-Sonsa Rae dba Essential Alchemy {March 30, 2015}
Natural products today range anywhere from adding a single ingredient in a miniscule amount to a product and then calling that product "natural" all the way to mashing an avocado and applying it to your face as a beauty treatment. Having said that, some people would have a problem even with this - if the avocado were not "certified" organic. There is no standard here in the United States, whatsoever, as to what constitutes a "natural" product. This has led to a lot of confusion with the public and a tremendous amount of arguing inside the industry itself with angry words and hurt feelings between its members as to who is claiming what. It's really sad that it has come to this.
From what I have seen, there is no such thing as a 100% natural product line. When you add a preservative to anything to extend its shelf life it's no longer 100% natural. Preservatives are not natural. Natural substances that show antimicrobial activity are either inadequate for broad spectrum protection or have undesirable qualities. Most natural substances are not active against the most threatening microbes, pseudomonads. Others, such as essential oils, require very high concentrations to be effective. Some have offensive odors or colors that would be unacceptable in skin care products. And many become inactivated by manufacturing procedures and other factors.
We use a naturally-derived preservative with broad spectrum protection that has been approved for use in certified organic products yet we've been accused of not having a truly "natural" line because of this by some who feel that anything not plucked off a tree, stem or vine or dug out of the ground isn't natural. Our opinion is that it's more important to offer a safe product than one that's potentially unstable.
Having said that, natural does not mean neutral. Many people are allergic to natural substances including dairy, wheat and nuts. Caution should always be used when trying a new product for the first time if you have a history of allergic reactions. Better yet, ask the company if you have a question about any of their products and/or ingredients. A reputable company will readily answer any questions you have.
Many of our products are made with food grade ingredients but are not certified organic. This is a category unto itself. Also, our products are not Vegan, which is another category that's popular today. I love honey, beeswax and royal jelly and also use goat's milk in my soap. I don't apologize for this because I'm an omnivore. I certainly understand the position of those who are herbivores and also those who seek certified organic products but not every ingredient that we use is available as a certified organic ingredient so it's not possible for us to have a certified organic line. These are decisions we all must make as to where we want to draw the line. I prefer not to use synthetic fragrance and/or color plus many other ingredients I consider objectionable (i.e. parabens) but it's up to each person as to where they stand on this subject. I have met people who tout their line as being certified organic yet subsist on a diet of unhealthy processed food.
The best advice I can offer is to educate yourself on the subject and thoroughly read your labels. Anything past "fragrance" on the label (which can be natural or synthetic, either one) is included in that product in a percentage of less than one percent. Don't be fooled by a long ingredient list that pays lip service to "natural" in a percentage that offers no benefit to the user. This is what we call greenwashing.
-Sonsa Rae dba Essential Alchemy {March 30, 2015}
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